Fall 2013 Issue 26

Finals Issue

Pipe Dream Grades the University.

See the Editorial Board's report card.

See page 9

A finals week pep talk from Release See page 5

Check out Release's Year in review.

See pages 6&7

PIPE DREAM Monday, December 16, 2013 | Binghamton University | www.bupipedream.com | Vol. LXXXIV, Issue 26

n o s a e S e h t s i T s g u r D y d u t S r Fo Joseph Hawthorne News Intern It’s the week that can make or break a GPA, when all-nighters and cramsessions abound. During finals week, some students turn to prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin, which are commonly prescribed to those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), to help stay focused and get a leg up. But is this last minute solution part of a greater trend in drug use?

A 2009 survey commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 6.4 percent of students used Adderall for non-medical reasons that year. Researchers from the University of Kentucky put the number as high as 34 percent.

“Individuals who have ADHD — it helps them to be able to have a normal performance,” said David Werner, a psychology professor at Binghamton University. “Students want them because they feel it is going to help them perform better by being able to study later.”

Officials are aware of the trend but unsure how to stop it. Patrick Reilly, investigator of Binghamton’s New York State University Police, said UPD tends to catch only one or two prescription drug offenders a semester.

“As far as the selling of it goes, I’ve heard a lot of it happens, but we don’t see many cases of it,” Reilly said. “It’s hard to detect. It’s not like alcohol that you can smell on someone’s breath, or marijuana where you have a pervasive smell.”

One senior majoring in psychology said she purchases Adderall not only during finals week, but about once a week during the semester, adding that “probably 90 percent” of her friends also use prescription drugs to help them study.

“I don’t think I need it, but it allows me to be more productive and get more work done in a relatively short amount of time, so I rely on it when there’s a time crunch,” the student said.

She said finding so called “study drugs” on campus is “extremely easy, except during finals week when the demand goes up.”

Other students admitted to using prescription study drugs, but less frequently.

“I’ve only used [Ritalin] once, for a paper I needed to get done that day,” said one freshman majoring in politics, philosophy and law. “If I needed to, I would use it again.”

Students who are prescribed Adderall described being regularly sought out and asked for the drug by their peers.

“Almost everyone I’ve known has asked me at least once,” said a sophomore majoring in English. “My family pays about $20 co-pay for a bottle of 30 pills, but my friends have offered me anywhere from $10 to $25 a pill.”

And it’s hard to say no when selling the drug is so lucrative.

“I mean it’s actually a prescription I’m supposed to take, so my mom pays for the copay, but since I’m not a fan of how I act when I’m on it, I don’t take it as it’s prescribed meaning of the 60 I get a month, I usually end up with 30-

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35 left,” wrote one BU senior. “Let’s be honest, everyone uses it (if they actually have ADD/ADHD or an addiction to social media) so when you just have that many laying around in your house, you can end up selling it for like $5 a pill and make a lot of money.”

Even if a student were to refuse selling their pills to a friend, they agreed that it wouldn’t stop them from finding the drugs elsewhere.

“Most people will find a way to get it somehow. If someone else has a drug problem, it’s their responsibility to stop,” said a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law.

Others think the drug should not be reserved for those with medical reasons, but for anyone.

“If they want to study and have better concentration, then that’s what it’s for,” said a freshman majoring in engineering.

“If you’re willing to put in the work, then you should be able to do that. Some people are just more easily distracted.”

But is enhancing your study abilities just another form of cheating? Some students think it is.

“It’s cheating for whatever final you take. I’ve never taken it and I don’t think you should feel compelled to take drugs to be competitive,” said Lana KassGergi, a sophomore double-majoring in mathematics and chemistry.

Werner points out that there may be unexpected side effects, like not being able to recall the information a student learned while under the influence of pills.

“In particular, students can become dependent on them. Moreover, from an

The most highly abused prescription drugs among college students education perspective it can often times be related to state-dependent learning,” Werner said, describing the state of mind when on the drugs. “This can have ramifications when they need to learn those materials but they’re no longer in those settings.”

Werner suggested healthy alternatives to the drugs, including healthy diet, rest and exercise.

“When you need to remember things for the long term, especially for classes relevant to your major, there’s nothing better than putting in the time and the effort,” Werner said. “Make sure you get a lot of sleep, this is the big thing.

People don’t realize that during your undergraduate years, your brain is still developing, and sleep is very much quintessential.”

19 93% Minutes increase in Adderall and Ritalin usage for college-age students

The rate at which one person dies from a drug overdose

In the last 20 years, the consumption of prescription stimulants increased from

5 million

5 million

45 Million

Bike share program brakes for break Users log over 160 hours of ride time during month-long pilot Joseph Hawthorne News Intern

As the first snowstorms hit Binghamton, the first phase of a free bike share program came to an end.

The pilot program, which lasted the month of November, recorded 40 different users logging 160 hours of ride time.

“The bikes were being used about two times a day, sometimes more and sometimes less - weather dependent,” wrote coordinator Shane Tracy, a sophomore majoring in industrial engineering, in an email.

“Because we opened towards the end of the semester, the weather only hindered our program, but the bikes were still used during these times. As the weather gets warmer, I suspect that we will have a lot more usage.”

The bike share program was originally part of Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions (IDEAS), but has turned into a Student Association-chartered student service.

Organizers said the pilot

program has taught them some important lessons.

“Maintenance is going to be needed on a regular basis,” Tracy wrote. “Six of the bike share members are enrolled in a bike maintenance course (395). When next semester rolls around, we plan to start a bike shop that is open to the public for a small fee (cheaper than most bike shops) located on the ground floor of the Old Union in between the Undergrounds and Munchies.”

Mike Stern, another organizer of the program, said that they are working on a better website for the program and a better method for signing up for bikes.

“We should have our own website running next semester where people can register and sign up for bikes ahead of time,” said Stern, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.

Many riders who used the bikes said they are excited for the bike share’s expansion.

“The bikes ran really well; I have a bike at home and I actually found this one easier to use,” said Jon Mermelstein, a sophomore majoring in political science. “It’s pretty limited right now because

Kendall Loh/Photo Editor

Bike share bikes sit in front of the Engineering Building. The pilot program, which lasted the month of November, recorded 40 different users logging 160 hours of ride time, but will close for winter break.

there’s only one hub, but once they expand it, it should become pretty useful to get around campus.”

Allen He, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, said that the bikes were better than those used for the Citi Bike rental program in New York City.

“For a free bike rental, these were amazing,” he said. “When the weather gets better, I’ll definitely use them again.”

He, like other riders, was

concerned with the limited number of bikes available.

“I’m not sure I want other people to even know about this program,” He said. “If it gets too popular, I’m not sure I’ll be able to get a bike for myself.”

Tracy said the bike share would probably resume midway though spring semester.

“We are going to re-open next semester by at least April 1st, but would like to open as early as possible, weather dependent,” Tracy wrote.

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4

FUN

The World According to Animals

Foul Parties

Our Aemittephagus Future #5

RELEASE DATE– Saturday, August 18, 2007

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 With 1-Down, authorized 8 Rooks 15 Big talk 16 Square fare 17 Schubert’s “Der Erlkönig,” for one 18 Not transitory 19 Eastern agreement 20 Big name in honey 22 Article in Die Welt 23 It’s inside: Abbr.

25 Chunk 26 Storage unit: Abbr.

27 Piano teacher’s command 29 Follower of dogs 31 Mordant 32 He played Alonzo in “Training Day” 34 Regulation involving boxers 36 Literally, Dutch for “southern sea” 38 Banquet offering 41 Seat of New York’s Chemung County 45 Fictional braggart 46 Ingenuous sort 48 “Materialism and Empiriocriticism” author 49 Majorca-toMinorca dir.

50 Work without __ 52 Gulls 53 Uninteresting 55 Ornamental stones 57 Fell 58 Tart quaff 60 Drug company whose stock was the subject of Martha Stewart’s conviction 62 Club not often seen 63 Minor party candidate, often 64 Doctor’s order

65 Activity centers DOWN 1 See 1-Across 2 Fix 3 Church seat 4 Legendary abductors 5 Familia people 6 Baseball Hall of Famer Wagner 7 Editor of two “Das Kapital” volumes 8 One on the house 9 Stuck in traffic, say 10 Fall starter?

11 The __ Society of Boston: Irish culture group 12 Like Hershey’s Kisses 13 Hyundai model 14 Written letter?

21 Degas subject 24 1893 courtroom name 28 Drei squared 30 Stun 31 School assignments

33 “Before You Sleep” novelist Ullmann 35 Liquidate 37 Crack operative?

38 Film whose tagline ends “Nothing can stop it!”

39 Mover 40 Devised, with “up”

42 Owing too much 43 Aged 44 Gets back to 47 Charm 51 Rate of speed 54 Prince Charles, e.g.

55 Splashes 56 Sixth-century Great Britain settler 59 Is for many?

61 Lending inst.

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

xwordeditor@aol.com

By Bob Peoples (c)2007 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

8/18/07

8/18/07

December 16, 2013 | www.bupipedream.com

Jared Auwarter

Mike Manzi

Seth Wegener

RELEASE Arts & Culture

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Year in

Review 2013 is almost over, and to honor its highs and commemorate its lows, Release writers spoke out.

Katie Dowd: “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys, “AM.” If this isn’t the best song of 2013, it’s certainly the sexiest. A slow burn with a bass line that sounds like thrusting hips, “Do I Wanna Know?” could single-handedly solve the pandas-aren’t-mating crisis. Alex Turner nails sexy desperation; when he wails, “Do you want me crawling back to you?” you don’t pity him, you want him. This is the perfect song for those of us who think about calling (or Facebook messaging) The One That Got Away on a nightly basis.

Jonathan Finkelstein: What did Haim, Vampire Weekend, Charli XCX and Sky Ferreira all have in common in 2013? One: Each released an excellent album, pushing pop into exciting and fun new territories.

Two: They all collaborated with 2013’s most prolific producer, Ariel Rechtshaid. His ear for memorable hooks and innovative melodies is consistent and custom-fitted to every artist he works with. His presence is undetectable; he helps bands to evolve without drastically changing their sound. The results have been unforgettable. We got instant classics from VW’s “Modern Vampires Of The City” like “Ya Hey” and “Hannah Hunt” and glittery pop standouts from the Haim Sisters’ “Days Are Gone” and XCX’s “True Romance.”

And while this year’s been jam-packed Odeya Pinkus: July 22, 2013. Kate with awesome music from January to Middleton having a baby made everyone obsessed with the December, Rechtshaid’s releases keep royal family once again. I too fell into this trap, and the event creeping back into the conversation marked the week and a half where all I wanted was to be and blasting from our headphones and British and royal and married to Prince Harry. speakers.

Katie Kravat: The Beyoncé Superbowl performance was one of the greatest moments of my life. I screamed at the top of my lungs with my floormates as we watched Queen Bey take the stage in her fancy, sexy, black leotard and sing with that heavenly voice. And then when Destiny’s Child came on stage … Heart. Stopped. Tears of joy ran down my cheeks as I rejoiced with my friends. Bey is the best, she’s the queen, she’s a goddess. Bey. Also, the Defense of Marriage Act was really huge. I was really proud of the Supreme Court and I was really happy that my friends who are gay can finally have the same marital rights that everyone else has, just as they should. It was a big step for America and hopefully more countries (ahem, Russia, ahem) will follow suit.

Ken Herman: Watching Lorde go from a 16-year-old New Zealand girl to a really famous 16-year-old New Zealand girl. Both “Love Club” and “Pure Heroine” were spectacular releases amongst a year’s worth of great music

Jacob Shamsian: There are still plenty of movies I need to watch before I can make a proper best-of-year list (“Inside Llewyn Davis” and “Her” are likely to be there), but one movie likely to stay is “Before Midnight.” Like its two predecessors, “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset,” “Midnight” is a perfect movie, making the trilogy the best ever after “Toy Story.”

Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have made a series unlike anything else in cinema, a story of a relationship unfolding over 18 years in real time. Also, shout out to James Turrell, whose exhibit this summer at the Guggenheim blew visual cortex, and Renata Adler, whose re-released 1976 book “Speedboat” remains a breath of fresh air and reminds us of what fiction can do.

Nathan Partridge: Pop culture comes and goes these days, but truly relevant works of art are becoming increasingly scarce. So, while I have heard many new albums, read new books and seen new movies this year, nothing impacted me more than “Será,” the new album by Caracas-bred band La Vida Bohème. This is the group’s second album and deals with topics like the Venezuelan dictatorship, loss of Venezuelan identity and personal isolation, all universally applicable themes. Their music speaks for itself: a beautiful mix of North and South American styles that requires no Spanish knowledge to understand on a human level.

Geoff Wilson: Rockstar Games’ “Grand Theft Auto V” launched in September to the biggest media release in history, making $1 billion in three days. “GTA V” received nearly unanimous critical praise with a score of 97 on Metacritic. While many argue the game’s artistic merits, Release agreed that above all else, it was fun.

Gabriella Ginsberg: This past September, I did standby with a friend for the premiere of “Saturday Night Live” hosted by Tina Fey, who is my favorite person, and with musical guest Arcade Fire. We slept outside on the street for two nights, which is not a blast, but it was awesome to meet other fans and even some celebrities along the way (Mike O’Brien and I are BFFs now). There was a Lorne Michaels sighting, and some people in our line were interviewed for the “Today” show. We returned at around 10 p.m.

Saturday night with our standby tickets and basically prayed to every god that we would get in. We did finally get in, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. There’s nothing like seeing comedy live, especially by some of the best and brightest funny people in the world. Arcade Fire played an extra half-hour set, which was ridiculous. Also, Tina Fey acknowledged my existence during a break in the show, and I died. The end.

Spencer Kostrinsky: I’ve watched the Internet turn into a constant stream of useless information. This procrastinator’s paradise has always existed, but now more than ever websites are publishing content that will get your attention without adding value to your day.

BuzzFeed puts out a list about “16 Animals Who Can’t Handle The Holiday” and now I’m staring at cats playing with ornaments for five minutes.

Whether it’s you or me, let’s get off the computer and start learning about something we might remember next year.

Darian Lusk: 2013 was a big one for me. Over the summer, every network TV intern in New York City was invited to a private screening of “The Internship” with a surprise appearance by Vince Vaughan. It was a very strange way to kick off a pretty incredible summer for me. It was the summer in which I wrote some of my best work and got to interview Bobby Moynihan from “SNL” and meet Tina Fey from “Date Night.” I have never been so awkward around anyone in my entire life.

I also remember my friend sending me the leak of Arcade Fire’s latest album while I was at a newspaper conference in New Orleans. I wandered the streets of the French quarter while listening to the record for the first time, it was a very cool experience. I had my best year yet and it was shaped and defined by the music, movies and pop culture around me.

Joseph Barberio: “Control” by Big Sean feat. Kendrick Lamar, Jay Electronica. 2013 was the year Kendrick Lamar took on the entire world. In his verse on Big Sean’s unreleased song, “Control,” he established his dominance while calling out his peers by name. He even proclaimed that he, a West Coast rapper, was the so called “King of New York.” The verse ultimately didn’t spawn any outspoken beefs with anybody, but it did something far more important: It shook the hip-hop world to its core and lit a fire under every young rapper’s ass. It’s King Kendrick’s era now so either put up or shut up.

Seth Perry: “Arrested Development” returning made my year. The worst-best show on TV came to Netflix for a fourth season, and my computer and I have never been so close. It’s hard to recreate the magic of the series’ original run, but just being able to see Tobias Fünke again in all his glory was enough for me. Also, please stop talking about “Yeezus,” it’s not that good.

Mike Amory: Mike Birbiglia’s “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” was my favorite stand-up special released in a year with a lot of great ones. Watching him tell a single story for about an hour and a half is impressive on a technical level, but to have such a mastery of the form that he can make emotional moments, like him explaining how he learned to let go of being right for the sake of happiness and love, while also being f**king hysterical is incredible to watch. That piece of art forced me to look at the foundations of my life and my dreams of being a comedian and reconsider what I find important in life.

Danny Santos: Kanye West’s album “Yeezus” impacted pop culture the most this year. With his bare bones, electronic approach to this album, Kanye has created a new sound that other artists will surely imitate in the months and years to come. Much like his album “808s & Heartbreak,” “Yeezus” will be unappreciated until its sounds are mimicked throughout the music culture.

Yael Rabin: This past year, Netflix began producing hit shows like “Orange Is the New Black” and “House of Cards.” These original television series are witty, well-scripted, well-cast and captivating. Netflix earned 14 Emmy nominations this year, and they’re not even an actual television network! They’ve changed the game for video streaming and have caused controversy because they don’t publicize the number of people watching their shows, which upsets networks like HBO because Netflix is now a competitor to cable and mainstream networks who publicize their numbers. Netflix has created an experience that has shaped and changed how we experience watching movies and television.

Ilana Lipowicz: “Orange Is the New Black” is, to me, the most important TV series of 2013. Our culture is starting to think about sexuality in a less concrete way, and this show has really captured this and given it validation. I think that a show like this was ready to be made and needed to be made, as it is confirming this new way of thinking about sexuality and helping it to progress.

John Sansone: Although I haven’t seen “Inside Llewyn Davis” yet, which I’ve heard only wonderful things about, I think the film I’ll remember best from this year is “Spring Breakers.” It was like watching Western civilization end in a neon lit party with piles of cocaine and guns everywhere. Also, a third of the audience I saw it with were kids under the age of 10, brought in by lazy parents who saw ads for what they thought was some silly movie about spring break starring two Disney starlets. Words cannot describe how surreal, not to mention uncomfortable, it is to watch boobs bounce in slow motion to a Skrillex song while sitting next to someone still in elementary school.

Katie Shafsky: The best exhibit I saw this year was “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit offered a look into the influence of punk on the world of fashion, highlighting famous designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. It showed the way in which punk music has invaded the world of high fashion and has created a new dialogue in the fashion industry. I hope that the Costume Institute at the Met chooses to bring back the exhibit in the near future, as anyone with an interest in fashion or the punk revolution absolutely needs to experience this glorious showcase.

December 16, 2013 | www.bupipedream.com

RELEASE

8

Why finals week is actually awesome The most stressful time of the semester may seem like hell, but it does have its upsides Rebecca Porath | Staff Writer From the sleepless nights to hours spent cramming in the library to the pressure of maintaining a respectable GPA, it’s clear that a lot of stress comes with the end of the semester. At the same time, though, finals week is not all bad. Just hear us out. While it may be the most stressful week of the year, there are some aspects of finals week that kind of rock.

1. Studying can be pretty satisfying — Yes, cramming a

semester’s worth of knowledge into a few days of studying is not typically a person’s idea of a good time. But, there is something to be said for that moment when you get in the zone. You discovered an awesome 8tracks playlist to work to, your study snacks are ready, you finally found a comfortable spot after 30 minutes of pacing through Glenn G. Bartle Library and you finally feel like you might actually be absorbing this information. There are some moments of anxiety for sure, but when you begin to understand what you’re learning and the outlines

you’ve been working on for eight hours straight are coming together, you definitely feel some pride. The sense of “I can do this” is beginning to win you over, and you feel like you could take on the world, if only for a moment of false security.

2. Finals week can be a weeklong bonding sesh — There’s no better way to bond with people in your classes than crying together and complaining about how inevitably screwed you all are. Not only will they be able to help you study and grasp the material, but getting to know them will also prove to be a

perfect distraction when you need a break every hour or so.

3. You’ll become a coffee master — During finals week, you’ll really learn your way around a cup of coffee if you haven’t already done so.

You’ll understand the beauty of an espresso shot (or three), the glorious amount of caffeine in a macchiato and truly realize the health benefits of downing four cups a day.

4. You’re that much closer to winter break — With all of the testing, studying and general lack of sanity, we sometimes forget that this week is the last of the semester.

With every exam, you’re one day closer to packing up for the winter and heading home. That means six weeks free of homework, tests and assigned reading — and six weeks of family, home friends, non-Sodexo food and, of course, Christmas. That definitely won’t get old after two weeks.

5. Nothing compares to that moment when you finish your last test — No matter how well or poorly you did on your last final, there’s no denying that filling in that last bubble on the Scantron or writing that concluding sentence is

an amazing feeling. No longer must you suffer, you are free!

So when you’re not rocking back and forth in the fetal position in some dark corner of Bartle, try to see finals week for what it truly is: not the best, but also not the worst. You get to show the world everything you learned, and prove to your teachers that skipping class half of the semester did not have any negative effects whatsoever. Or in the case that you bomb your finals, there’s always next semester!

Final concert for finals week BUMP's last 2013 showcase brought BU's best student performers Emily Mancini | Staff Writer “It’s gonna be weird,” said Karl Bernhardsen, a senior majoring in English, before the start of the Binghamton Underground Music Presents (BUMP)/WHRW 90.5 FM Student Showcase. And weird it was, after a night filled with morph suits, synth-heavy sets and the most distinct student musical acts Binghamton University has to offer.

The showcase, which was held in the Mandela Room Friday night, featured some of BU’s most talented and creative student musicians, who came together and played under the smiling visage of the late Nelson Mandela to donate directly to

Operation SAnta, the Student Association gift drive which distributes toys and clothes to needy children during the holiday season.

Student musician Carl Schrecongost, a senior majoring in cinema, set the tone for the evening, opening with an eccentric synthesizerheavy set complete with two student background dancers sporting Vonnegut-esque masks and morph suits. Bernhardsen, later revealed to be one of the masked dancers, regaled the audience with his sweet moves.

Mike Shapiro, the frontman of the popular campus band DreamReel, played a toneddown acoustic set that had the audience tapping their feet and singing along.

“It’s great to see everyone out here supporting this good cause,” said Shapiro, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, to the crowd in between songs. “Thank you so much for coming.”

The event was particularly special for Andrew Williamson, a graduate student studying business, who performed his first set as a solo artist. Williamson alternated between layering and looping sounds on his keyboard, drumming, singing and playing his guitar, creating an ambient and impressive sound for a oneman band.

“Thank you WHRW and BUMP for giving me my first opportunity to perform as a solo artist, while helping the children at the same time!”

NYIT AWARDS OVER $37,000,000 IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. COME VISIT US.

Williamson said after his set.

Laura Keim, the frontwoman/ bassist of the popular student band Liberty Belle and the Union Boys and a junior majoring in music, gave a spectacular vocal performance, singing some original songs and rocking out on the electric guitar.

The event was well received by students, who popped in and out throughout the night to enjoy some music in between studying for finals.

“It’s nice that BUMP and WHRW put this together,” said Isabella Castiglioni, a freshman majoring in anthropology. “We get to hear great music from the students, all for a good cause.”

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OPINION Monday, December 16, 2013

Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 Phone: 607-777-2515 Fax: 607-777-2600 Web: www.bupipedream.com

Fall 2013 Editor-in-Chief* Christina Pullano editor@bupipedream.com Managing Editor* Paige Nazinitsky manager@bupipedream.com

News Editor* Rachel Bluth news@bupipedream.com

Fall 2013 Report Card D

ecember means many things: all-nighters in Glenn G. Bartle Library, peppermint-flavored everything, alternate side of the street parking and, most important of all, Pipe Dream’s semester-end report card.

Asst. News Editors Davina Bhandari Nicolas Vega Geoff Wilson Opinion Editor* Michael Snow opinion@bupipedream.com Release Editor* Darian Lusk release@bupipedream.com Asst. release editor Jacob Shamsian Sports Editor* Ari Kramer sports@bupipedream.com Asst. Sports Editors Erik Bacharach Ashley Purdy

University Union Food Court Construction: Incomplete It’s finally here! Well, hopefully.

Everyone has that friend who didn’t quite fulfill the requirements to graduate high school on time and had to have their diploma mailed to them over the summer, after finally writing their history term paper. Well, the Food Court construction is like that. We’re really excited in anticipation of its opening next semester and getting a little bit of the munchies just thinking about having Mein Bowl and a 24/5 Starbucks above our ceiling. We hope that at next semester’s end we can give the Food Court an A. Until then, an Incomplete is the best dish we can serve.

Dean of Students Office: A It’s rare to have an administrator who so clearly loves his or her job the way April Thompson does. Her office has been responsive and receptive to student suggestions, especially one we raised in a recent editorial about not having enough study space during finals week. The day that our editorial was published, her office contacted us to flesh out plans to open empty classrooms for studying.

Within a day, a B-Line addition went out to announce which rooms were available. The Dean’s Team has been an especially helpful source of ideas and implementation within the office. We

appreciate the fact that when we have a concern or suggestion, we have open ears to voice it to.

President Harvey Stenger: B In the past, we have graded President Stenger generously, giving him good marks for being a visible and active figure on campus. Last semester’s report card cautioned that the high grades could only stand if the president kept up his trajectory.

This semester started out looking promising; we saw Stenger at University Fest and at the grand opening of the new disc golf course. However, since then, we haven’t seen much of our president.

Last semester, we were up on all of his plans and activities because he regularly made appearances at open forums and meetings about his Road Map proposals. Right now, we don’t really hear much coming out of the president’s office, and we would like to see more in the coming semester.

Sports: C+ The athletics department had its most successful year in 2012-13, but we’ll have to wait until the spring to see if that success repeats itself.

Volleyball did not qualify for the conference tournament, and both soccer squads finished in sixth place and fell in the AE quarterfinals. At least men’s basketball has produced three America East Rookie of the Weeks and two Player of the Weeks.

But the team hasn’t reversed the losing trend, entering winter break at 2-8.

English Department: B In a piece called “Broken English” published last semester, our Editorial Board criticized the English department. The main criticism was the structure of the department; its lack of prerequisites was a focus point, as well as the fact that it’s strikingly easy to cruise through the English major, underachieving all the way. We’ve gotten wind from a few professors that our words were heard, prompting discussion within the department, which is great. But the B stands as is, because we’re waiting for tangible results. While we wouldn’t want the department to jump to any drastic restructuring without first doing the legwork, we think it’s important to remember that students currently enrolled as English majors have limited time. We suggest student surveys and class observations as good places to start — the findings may come as a bit of a wake-up call.

Student Association: AThe SA really impressed this year, running smoothly and going above and beyond expectations.

What it really comes down to is their crack team of E-Board members. From Samson, who did a great job effectively managing student groups and making events like University Fest and programs

Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists.

The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinion Editor, Sports Editor, and Release Editor.

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A year in review from Op-Ed Editor Michael Snow Semester's end heralds reflections and renewed goals for Spring 2014 Michael Snow Opinion Editor

What a year it’s been.

Since becoming the editor of the opinion section, I’ve been consistently impressed — at times overwhelmed — by the honesty and courage with which students have opened themselves up to their peers. In the last few months, we’ve published columns that come from raw places, dealing with depression, eating disorders and weight loss, social struggles and professional and academic anxieties.

These pieces have opened up channels of dialogue on campus about important, at times uncomfortable, issues.

It’s also been fulfilling to see our staff editorials positively contribute to changes on the ground on Binghamton University’s campus. A few notable examples come to mind.

Take Sodexo’s new Meatless Monday initiative, for instance. Though the program has its faults, it’s a step in the right direction. I can’t help but think that our editorial from last April, wherein

we petitioned Sodexo to offer greater vegetarian options, played a role in achieving that.

It has also been encouraging, more recently, to see how responsive the Dean of Students Office has been to the lack of study space — particularly near power outlets. The day after we ran an editorial on the subject, the Dean of Students announced the plan to open additional classrooms for extended study periods, as per one of our suggestions.

But 2013 was a mixed year, both for BU and Pipe Dream. A year characterized by dissonance: President Barack Obama and Yellowcard. The opening of New Dickinson, and seemingly indefinite University Union Food Court construction.

Our staff has experienced challenges and growth within our own humble underground basement office — though we prefer to think of it as “subterranean chic” — as well.

Over the past few months, our staff has reexamined the ways in which we relate to our

readers. We’ve questioned what it means to be the voice of the student body on campus, and how we can most honorably live up to that role.

To me, a central piece in fulfilling our aspiration to be the voice of the student body involves you, the reader. Interaction is up; that much is clear. More people are commenting, writing in and submitting guest columns and letters to the editor.

That’s great. But there’s even more we can accomplish, together.

For spring 2014, I’d like to see even more dialogue. What issues should we be raising, but aren’t? How can we refocus campus dialogue over, say, the proposed smoking ban or tuition hikes?

What compelling cause are you triumphing that we don’t know about?

I know that our readership base comprises not only students, but teachers, parents, community members, administrators and beyond. In the spring of 2014, I’m looking forward to an ever-intensified dialogue with our readers.

A central piece in fulfilling our aspiration to be the voice of the student body involves you, the reader

So write in. Respond in the form of letters to the editor, or submit a guest column; anyone can do it.

Join the conversation.

Whether we are ready for it or not, 2014 is coming — fast. For many of us, that means it’ll soon be time to don our caps and gowns and bid adieu. For others, 2014 will mean the completion of a first semester away at college, or just one more semester closer to the big day.

No matter what, the end of the semester means that it’s time to look around and take stock. In many ways, the opinion section has proven to be a space for our community to openly share the reflections, causes and views that define us. At the same time, we’ve faced stark reminders of the ways we have to go before we can say we’ve honored our role as the voice of the student body.

For me, it’s been entirely rewarding to work with a devoted team of writers and editors to bring to light the people, stories, issues, debates, tragedies and success stories that make Binghamton, Binghamton. I’m looking forward to what 2014 will bring.

— Michael Snow is a senior doublemajoring in philosophy and English.

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Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. *Positions seated on the Executive Board are denoted by an asterisk.

Pipe Dream is published Tuesdays and Fridays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and vacations.

Pipe Dream accepts stimulating, original guest columns from undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. Submissions should be 400 to 500 words in length and be thus far unpublished. Columns and letters to the editor in response to something printed in Pipe Dream should be submitted before a subsequent issue is published.

Submissions must include the writer’s name and phone number, and year of graduation or expected year of graduation. Graduate students and faculty members should indicate their standing as such, as well as departmmental affiliation.

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Submissions may be e-mailed to the Opinion Editor at opinion@ bupipedream.com.

OPINION

10

Choosing a major is hard work at BU Academic programs should afford students greater flexibility Rebecca Klar Contributing Columnist

I’m confused. Am I supposed to choose a major or a salary? I was under the impression — a pretty naive impression, I’ll admit — that you come to college to learn, to choose a field of study and to actually want to be educated. However, lately it seems everyone is completely preoccupied with the average salary in a prospective field.

It’s important to have a plan for a career while in college. But should a job’s salary be more important than the student’s interest?

Should you despise the courses you’re taking because you believe the major you’re pursuing might make you wealthy in the future? What ever happened to the belief that “If you love what you’re doing you never work a day in your life?” I’m starting to believe I’m the only person left who would rather choose an interesting career path over a six-figure salary.

Binghamton University makes it hard to explore majors as it is. A student who wants to sample different courses in various departments faces numerous roadblocks.

First off, certain majors require that you

start taking your courses for that major as soon as first semester freshman year, and failing to do so pushes you back in terms of graduating on time. The next struggle is that if you haven’t declared a major, you can’t take certain classes within a field. How can you declare a major in a field if you aren’t able to take a basic course in it?

If you asked the average student why he or she is majoring in a certain field, the typical response isn’t one filled with joy or excitement about that area. Rarely is someone so overwhelmingly excited about that topic. More often than not, the response is that he or she feels a degree in this or that respective major will lead to a high-paying occupation in the future.

I’m not saying that this goes for all students. And just because I’m utterly repulsed by the idea of taking any more than the basic required math and science courses doesn’t mean that every student who is a science major is only doing it in the hopes of a high salary. However, whatever it is that you find joy in is what you should major in — not because you believe it will lead to more

monetary success in your future.

Obviously there’s the factor of the price of school; you’re making an investment in your future. The money you are paying now to earn a degree will, hopefully, turn into a wise investment and lead to making more money in a career in the future. However, students should at least enjoy what they’re doing. There shouldn’t be so many salaryobsessed people who aren’t even applying for jobs yet.

In high school, everyone complained about all of the boring classes they were forced to take. However, now we are given a choice. You choose the classes you take, and I still hear the same number of, if not more, complaints about the same thing. Nobody is forced to major in a field that bores them.

Students need to take a step back and reevaluate their future plans. Put your priorities in order, and rank which is more important to you: excitement about what you are studying and working on, or money.

Should a job’s salary be more important than the student’s interest?

— Rebecca Klar is a freshman majoring in English.

Media portrayals hide holiday's meaning Take New Year's Eve as a time to reflect on the past year Giovanna Bernardo Contributing Columnist

Let’s all take a step away from cramming in those last hours of studying in Glenn G. Bartle Library and the hysteria of finals week to focus on break and more prominently, New Year’s Eve. If you can even think this far into the future with the stress of finals bearing down on your soul, you’ll be forced to agree with me that the hype of this particular holiday is slightly ridiculous.

Multiple movies and TV specials focus on how New Year’s Eve could be one of the best nights of your life. Your fanciest outfits shown off at the hottest party and, of course, topped off with a kiss from your true love at midnight are all ingredients for the night of a lifetime.

I know I looked forward to New Year’s after I saw “When Harry Met Sally” for the first time. Who wouldn’t want to hear a profession of love just as everyone is counting down to the beginning of a fresh start?

Such an epic night could be the perfect start to a new year and to the rest of your life.

But alas, it’s all just the hype of New Year’s Eve. If you are

lucky enough to have as great of a New Year’s as Harry or Sally, then more power to you!

However, I think that all the hysteria is just an illusion created by the entertainment industry and the media to get people to go out and spend even more money around the holidays.

If you’re going to a New Year’s party, you have to have the best outfit possible. And if you’re throwing a New Year’s party, food, champagne, decorations and a new outfit would all make your “to-buy” list (on top of all those Christmas gifts you just purchased a month ago).

All these unrealistic expectations do nothing more than distract people from the holiday’s real significance — self-improvement and gratitude for the past year.

Who wants to focus on what they have been blessed with over the last year when they could dream about who they’re going to kiss at midnight? Who wants to reflect on how they should improve their life and become a better person when they could focus on what party they’re going to attend?

New Year’s is a chance for everyone to reflect on another year gone, defined by the mistakes, triumphs, hardships and memories that make up a lifetime.

More importantly, though, New Year’s is an opportunity to think about the year to come. Think about how we can right any

Life isn’t perfect.

New Year’s Eve most likely won’t be either

wrongs of the past year. Think about all the new memories to be created. Think about how to become the best possible version of ourselves.

This is a new year we’re being blessed with. Let’s make the most of it.

I don’t mean to sound preachy, but no other night of the year is meant to help us start over and be better. The hype of an unrealistically picture-perfect night takes away from this holiday’s true meaning.

I’m not saying that you should sit home alone on New Year’s Eve in a dark room and meditate on the past year and the year to come.

Go out! Have a great time to celebrate the start of a new year! Just don’t set your standards too high for a holiday that always starts out great, but slowly becomes just another Dec. 31. Don’t be upset when your ideal holiday doesn’t go as planned.

Life isn’t perfect. New Year’s Eve most likely won’t be either. It isn’t a Meg Ryan movie, or even a CBS special, so don’t compare it to how the media portrays it.

Even though we would all love that perfect New Year’s Eve, we should enjoy every minute of a cozy night at home watching the ball drop with our family, or a small get-together with our closest friends.

The night is about what you make it out to be — not what Hollywood makes it out to be.

So enjoy the start of a new year and the start of a new semester, no matter how the night turns out.

— Giovanna Bernardo is an undeclared freshman.

www.bupipedream.com | December 16, 2013

We need more diverse testing Students think in different ways, test them accordingly Matt Bloom Contributing Columnist

The educational system in America is in the midst of a paradox.

While it is striving to generate an environment of different thinkers and accordingly different learners, it is subjecting all students to the same forms of testing. In order to accurately gauge students’ intelligence and comprehension of the subject material, educational institutions need to provide them with different types of testing layouts so that every student has an equal chance to showcase his or her cognitive ability and hard work.

Most colleges and universities aspire to comprise a diverse community in all aspects. This includes a populous of varied and unique learners, all of whom succeed better in certain circumstances and worse in others. Yet the majority of schools, including Binghamton University, test their students with the same few formats: the all too familiar multiple choice test, short answer or definition-based test, and writing-based exam or final paper.

These methods of grading, however, only cater to a limited type of student, leaving the rest at a severe disadvantage.

Students are held accountable for their academic performance, but perhaps not rightfully so. For example, a student who tends to struggle with multiple choice tests will logically do worse than a student whose mind is naturally adept to that specific testing configuration, even if both students possess an equal understanding of the material’s content. This creates substantial issues for students with learning differences and disabilities, as well as students who hail from other countries or regions.

Accommodations such as extra time, a test reader, a computer and so on are thought to equalize the playing field, but in many cases they are not enough. A student who is given more time for one reason or another, yet is not — whether this be the result of a learning difference, language barrier or solely because of the uncontrollable chemical makeup of his or her brain — will do worse than a student whose unique brain chemistry is predisposed and naturally inclined to writing.

Consequently, it will be easier for the latter student to succeed on writingbased tests despite the former student’s accommodations and even equal knowledge of the subject. As a result, accommodations neither solve the problem nor do they create equal opportunity.

Not only are accommodations extremely difficult to receive,

even for students with learning disabilities or students who are not native English speakers, but it is also extraordinarily difficult to be diagnosed with a learning disability, which has much to do with social class and resources. Beyond that, it will be harder for students with language barriers to advocate for and implement those accommodations, if they are lucky enough to receive them. Additionally, all students, even without learning disabilities or language barriers, learn better in different environments and perform better and worse in certain settings and formats, yet the majority are tested the same way. Since specific accommodations should only be given to students with distinct needs as to not give advantages to students who do not need them, the only way to efficiently solve the problem of unfair testing is to change the educational testing system holistically.

Accommodations such as extra time ... are thought to equalize the playing field, but in many cases they are not enough Surely students should be familiar with all testing formats, but only to find what format works for the individual. Students should be given options of test formats so they can more accurately and effectively demonstrate their knowledge of the course. If a student is a great presenter, the option of a presentation or oral exam should be given. If the student is a great writer, then he or she should write a paper. If the student does better on a multiple choice exam instead of short answer exam or vice versa, then he or she should have the ability to choose. This method would mediate much of the stress students face, allowing them to better focus on course material and subsequently better exhibit their knowledge, which would result in both a greater measure of students’ success and the success of the school. Obviously it is far easier for schools to grade such an abundance of students’ scores with the same format of tests and Scantrons, but as every student learns at one time or another, the easy way out is rarely the best route to achievement.

— Matt Bloom is an undeclared freshman.

to d n o p s e R a column E-mail your letter to the editor to editor@bupipedr eam.com

SPORTS

www.bupipedream.com | December 16, 2013

11

McKenzie dominates as Rider downs BU in overtime After holding eight-point lead with 7:45 left, Bearcats get outscored 26-12 by hosting Broncs Erik Bacharach Assistant Sports Editor

The Binghamton women’s basketball team had an answer for each of MyNeshia McKenzie’s 25 points and 19 rebounds through regulation on Saturday afternoon. In overtime, however, McKenzie and Rider capitalized on their opportunities and sent the Bearcats (19) back to Binghamton without a win.

McKenzie, a senior forward, finished with 27 points and 20 rebounds, both career highs, as she put Rider ahead for good with a layup with about four minutes left in overtime. The Bearcats missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer, and Rider took the contest, 66-63. “[McKenzie’s] a good player — very athletic and knows her role on her team,” BU head coach Nicole Scholl said. “And she’s one of those types of players that if you’re not paying attention to her, if you’re not boxing her out, she’s going to get some easy ones. I thought there were times when we played her well, and I thought other times we just gave her too many easy, open looks.”

Less than one minute into the second half, McKenzie freed herself under the hoop and converted a layup to tie the game at 28-28. The Bearcats had led, 28-23, at the break, but sophomore guard Mikal Johnson buried a 3-pointer on Rider’s first possession out of the locker room, and McKenzie followed suit with her bucket.

“We talk a lot about putting two halves together, and I thought we just came out a little bit sluggish in the beginning of the second,” Scholl said.

But near the midway point of the second half, the Bearcats embarked on a 15-4 spurt to take a 51-43 lead with 7:45 left in regulation. Senior forward Julia Barac highlighted the run with six points.

But the Broncs countered with a 9-1

surge of their own, capped by a 3-pointer from freshman guard Stephanie Mason.

After McKenzie put Rider up, 58-56, by sinking a pair of free throws with 11.9 seconds remaining, senior guard Vaneeshia Paulk got inside and converted a layup to tie the game at 58-58.

In overtime, Rider never trailed as McKenzie grabbed a rebound on one end of the floor and knocked down a basket on the other to put her team up, 60-58.

With one second remaining and the score at 66-63, BU senior guard Stephanie Jensen managed to get off a desperation 3-pointer, but Scholl said it wasn’t the clean look she was hoping for.

“It was a triple screen that we ran for [Jensen] to try and get her a shot,” she said. “Rider’s defense was pretty good.

They switched out on everything and were able to get a hand in her face, and unfortunately we didn’t get a clean shot off.”

The Bearcats didn’t score from the field in the extra period, and only managed to make three free throws.

McKenzie’s huge stat line stole the spotlight from Barac’s career day. The forward finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. “[Barac] is playing well right now.

She’s come in and taken advantage of the time she’s getting, and she keeps improving with each practice,” Scholl said. “With her frame, at 6’2”, I think

she’s been helpful on the defensive end and she has the ability to knock down shots, and I think she’s gaining a lot of confidence right now.”

Paulk contributed 15 points and has now scored in double figures in three consecutive games.

Sophomore guard Kandace Newry added 11 points for BU, while Johnson chipped in with 16 points for Rider.

After a 26-point loss to Princeton on Dec. 11, Scholl said Saturday’s effort was a step in the right direction.

“I think we’re still really continuing to improve,” she said. “I see shades of things that we’re getting better at each and every game, and it’s been a while since we’ve been in a tight game like this, let alone an overtime game. So I think just the experience, in and of itself, I think we can really take a lot from this and we’ll learn from it.”

Next up for the Bearcats is a matchup at Siena on Dec. 21. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. from Times Union Center.

BU @ Siena DATE

Dec. 21 LOCATION

Times Union Center TIME

2:00 p.m.

BU @ Rider

63

66

Tycho McManus/Staff Photographer

Senior guard Vaneeshia Paulk scored 13 points in Binghamton’s loss at Rider.

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SPORTS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Rider downs BU in overtime Page 11

Monday, December 16, 2013

HAWK-WARD

BU shoots 26.1 percent from field as Monmouth coasts to win Ari Kramer Sports Editor

Kendall Loh/Photo Editor

Sophomore guard Jordan Reed was the only Bearcat to score in double figures against Monmouth.

“[The pressure] rushed us into a lot of bad shots. The turnovers weren't as much the issue. It was more the quality of shots” — Tommy Dempsey BU head coach

The Binghamton men’s basketball team converted just one field goal during a 12-minute stretch, and host Monmouth ran away with a 74-46 victory Saturday night.

The Bearcats (2-8) had not finished a game with fewer than 50 points since March 9.

“We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket,” BU head coach Tommy Dempsey said, “and the lead just continued to stretch because we just couldn’t buy one.”

Binghamton led, 25-21, with 3:55 left in the first half. But the Bearcats went cold from the floor while Monmouth (5-6) found a rhythm and rode three 3-pointers to a 35-27 halftime lead.

“We just didn’t do a good job finishing the half,” Dempsey said. “Monmouth hit a couple of 3s and took all the momentum into halftime.”

Out of the break, Monmouth scored on seven of its first eight possessions.

Suddenly, Binghamton trailed by 20.

“Once we were down,” Dempsey said, “we were chasing them around.”

The Hawks’ pressure forced 16 Binghamton turnovers, which led to 16 Monmouth points. In last year’s meeting, the Hawks scored 32 points off 21

Binghamton turnovers. “[The pressure] really didn’t bother us,” Dempsey said. “That was my biggest concern going into the game, but the pressure was not much of a factor.”

But even though turnovers didn’t fuel Monmouth’s offense as much as they did last year, the pressure still forced Binghamton into quick shots. “[The pressure] rushed us into a lot of bad shots,” Dempsey said. “The turnovers weren’t as much the issue. It was more the lack of quality shots.”

The Bearcats hit just three of 22 3-pointers and shot 26.1 percent from the field. Dempsey said he needed to help his players find more favorable scoring opportunities.

“That’s part of my responsibility as a coach,” he said. “The second part of it was when we got shots, they just didn’t fall. We didn’t have anybody who had it going at all, so our shooting numbers were really rough.”

Sophomore guard Jordan Reed led Binghamton with 13 points and seven rebounds. He shot 4 for 11 from the field and 5 for 10 from the foul line, and no other Bearcat reached double figures in scoring.

The Hawks, who shot 44.4 percent from the field and 11 of 28 from 3-point territory, featured three players in double figures, with junior guard Andrew Nicholas

and sophomore guard Collin Stewart each scoring 13 points.

Monmouth’s bench poured in 38 points.

Dempsey said his team did not have enough high-quality practices this week, and he thought that played a role in the losing effort. The Bearcats do not play again until Dec. 23, when they are scheduled to visit Buffalo. In the meantime, Dempsey said he hopes his team will perform better in practice.

“We need to get our young team bought into how hard we have to practice because I just don’t feel like we’re practicing with enough of a sense of urgency,” Dempsey said. “Those times where we have not had good practices, we have struggled in the games.”

Tipoff against the Bulls (4-3) is set for noon at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

BU @ Buffalo

FINAL SCORE

46

DATE

Dec. 23 LOCATION

Alumni Arena TIME

Noon

74